Swansea: DVLA dismisses five people in Wales over data breaches in three years

Five people have been dismissed by the DVLA in Wales in the last three years for breaches of the Data Protection Act. Offences included “unauthorised access of the vehicle record” and “releasing information to a third party”.

The Swansea-based agency, which employs about 5,000 staff, said it took data protection “extremely seriously”.

The information was obtained in a Freedom of Information request by BBC Wales’ Newyddion Arlein.

As well as the dismissals, one person received a written warning for “mail sent accidentally to an incorrect e-mail address”.

Another received a written warning for “document containing legal advice, subject to legal and professional privilege, accidentally posted out to claimant with relevant papers”.

The DVLA said it takes data protection “extremely seriously, monitor databases carefully and take any cases of misuse seriously”.